Down are back on track

Down are back on track

2 July 2014

DOWN are up and running again after easily dispatching of a poor Leitrim team in what was little more than a glorified training exercise at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

The Mourne men sauntered around the expanses of Páirc Esler and picked off scores at will as Leitrim chased shadows for the 70 plus minutes.

Within the first ten minutes Down had set out their stall.

The darting Conor Laverty plundered 1-2 with Dan Gordon and Donal O’Hare also registering. Laverty’s major was a result of pure determination on his part as he bundled in a loose ball after Mark Poland’s fisted effort flew back of the post.

Two Emlyn Mulligan frees was all that Leitrim could muster in the opening period. With Laverty in inspired creative mode Down continued to attack the scoreboard.

Mark Poland notched his first score with Donal O’Hare following this up with his first free. Niall Madine then pounced for Down’s second goal in the 23rd minute.

A wayward shot by Dan Gordon was fumbled in the Leitrim square by sweeper Kevin Conlon.

Laverty reacted quickest as he picked up the spillage and forwarded the ball on to Benny Coulter.

Coulter spied Madine in space and the big Saval man made no mistake as he rippled Farrelly’s net. 

Further efforts from Maginn and O’Hare had Down coasting before Sean McWeeney had Leitrim’s first score from open play in the 31st minute.

Benny Coulter responded for Down before ‘keeper Michael Cunningham pulled off an acrobatic finger tip deflection to deny Robert Lowe a goal.

Cunningham then stepped up to execute a 45’ for the home side which glided crisply over the bar to give Down an impressive 2-10 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Leitrim’s struggles continued in the second half as Down comfortably eased themselves through to full time. O’Hare and Laverty posted early efforts with Mulligan replying with a free.

Laverty then had himself his second goal.

The originator of the move was Niall Madine who worked the ball to Benny Coulter inside the 21’. 

Coulter manufactured a one-two with Poland, but the Mayobridge stalwart missed the return pass which failed to evade Laverty who palmed in from close range.

Coulter and Laverty tagged on a double of minors before Mulligan grabbed a second free 17 minutes in the last quarter saw McCartan’s men outscore the Connacht side 1-4 to 0-3.

Substitutes Damien Turley and Liam Doyle combined for 1-2 with Kevin McKernan and Mark Poland hitting another two points to seal a facile win.

The city of Newry has a bigger population than the whole of Leitrim and this was ultimately reflected on the scoreboard.

Kildare will provide a much sterner test for Down in the next round and everyone in the camp will be acutely aware of this.

Down: M. Cunningham (0-01, 1 45’), D. McCartan, N. Donnelly, D. O’Hagan, C. McCartan, C. Garvey, K. McKernan (0-1), D. Gordon (0-1), P. Turley, B. Coulter (0-2), C. Maginn (0-1), M. Poland (0-2), D. O’Hare (0-4, 3F), N. Madine (1-0), C. Laverty (2-4). Subs: L. Doyle (0-2, 2F), C. Toner, E. McCartan, O. Costello, D. Turley (1-0), A. Carr. Blood sub: A. Rogers.

Leitrim: P. Farrelly, A. Wynne, D. Wrynn, B. McWeeney, B. Prior, Gy. Reynolds (0-1), S. McWeeney (0-1), D. Sweeney, D. Moran, G. Hickey, E. Mulligan (0-5, 4F), A. McLoughlin, K. Conlon, R. Lowe (0-1), R. Cox. Subs: F. Clancy, M. McWeeney, G. Reynolds, N. Moore (0-1), C. Clinton, A. Hickey.

Down 4-18

Leitrim 0-9

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